BOSSES on Teesside hope there will be instant chemistry when they meet hundreds of potential job seekers.

More than 700 secondary school pupils have been invited to attend a summer school hosted by the University of Teesside in Middlesbrough, geared to showing the teenagers possible career paths in science.

Organised by the Teesside Chemical Initiative Limited next month's summer school will include controlled explosions, forensic science and the processes of refining crude oil into petrol.

Julie Mennell, assistant director of the university's school of science and technology, said: "Chemistry at Work is a great event because it illustrates the uses for science in every day life. The displays are designed to show what a scientist actually does and how chemistry affects our lives, often without us even realising it.''

Initiative team leader Leila Elliott said: "Our working relationship with the region's leading chemical firms means we have some excellent presentations and I'm sure the young scientists will learn a lot.

"The chemical industry had played an enormous role in the economic and social fabric of the region and we believe events such as Chemistry at Work will only further the industry's positive influence."